Recent comments on the election campaign deserve some rebuttal.
As a 45-year Citizen reader, I have found that Neil Godbout's editorials are very balanced, much better than previous editors. Ted Perry's Pravda titled letter (Sept. 1), comparing The Citizen to a socialist rag is off-base, inflammatory, and shows the general public's lack of knowledge about just what is and what is not socialism.
What's socialist and right-wing in Saudi Arabia and Iran is a lot different than what is considered right or left in Canada, a lot different in the U.S. (Donald Trump), and even different in Israel, not to mention Nazi Germany.
Wally Neufeld's letter (Aug. 29), criticizing Todd Whitcombe's earlier article, suggests that even if Harper did know of his office's involvement in the Duffy affair, why get excited? Well, why not?
Getting away with one lie generally leads to a bigger one. The Nixon administration fell over the president lying about Watergate.
Conservatives should be fighting their own leader for the facts. A locally prominent Conservative told me at Tim Hortons that they would easily win this election if Stephen Harper had the sense to step down.
Nathan Geide's Aug. 12 column re-affirms this by saying he couldn't be bothered watching the leader's debate, only voting for the local MP is important. In other words, mentioning Harper is costing votes.
Leonard Matte (Aug. 18) argues the CBC should be put out to pasture. Why?
Some of the most important stories carried by Canadian media originate from CBC research. Smaller news networks no longer have the resources or money to fight government lawsuits or longterm drag by Access to Information restrictions. Give CBC more money and you would get more overall accountability, perhaps even an explanation of why cabinet minister Helena Guergis was turfed.
Only three things hit me as great ideas in this campaign so far. One, Trudeau's $250 billion for infrastructure spending is surely a tax decrease for all homeowners given the more than 100 per cent rise in our utility bills in recent years, mainly a result of federal and provincial downloading. Two, Elizabeth May's allowing her candidates to drop off the ballot to prevent vote-splitting, and three, Trudeau's proposal to change to proportional representation.
With this campaign being twice the normal length, Trudeau is actually getting the extra experience the Conservatives say he lacks. Is he inexperienced or do Conservatives just think soft Liberal voters will run to Harper rather than the leader with the nice beard? Let's hope he and Mulcair have the guts to debate Elizabeth May on the environment with or without Stephen Harper around to make them look good.
Other letter writers have commented on smaller parties not getting their signs up quickly. Stephen Harper cancelled that party funding when he got a majority - remember? Remember also Bill C-51, Robo-calls,and the Del Mastro election overspending conviction.
Should Harper lose, I suspect his last act will be to grant Senate seats to Nigel Wright and Ray Novak for a job well done.
Why do I get this deja vu feeling?
Something about "You had an option, sir."
Alan Martin
Prince George
